Katrina Porteous, poet, historian and broadcaster came to East Coker on a rare visit to the South West. Her particular interests include the inshore fishing community of the Northumberland coast, and the cultural and natural history of that area and her poetry brought this alive in a vivid and exciting way. 
'Katrina Porteous, now being hailed as one of the most exciting talents of the North East: . . ..' (Alan Franks, The Times).
 

South Poetry Magazine was established in 1990, to promote poetry from, for and about, the southern counties of England. Since then its scope has widened to include poet-contributors from all over the world, but it continues to be edited and run from the south. Regular contributors to South, Tim Harris from the South Management Team, Joan McGavin and Stella Davis, who now lives in locally, read a selection of their work, and hoped to find among the East Coker audience, some new contributors to the magazine.

“300 Trees” - an evening of poems (and photographic images) inspired by Moscow, its people and traditions, presented by Brian Patman. Brian Patman won the East Coker Poetry competition in 2007 and his masterful judging of our 2008 competition was one of the highlights of our poetry meetings last year.

'Poetry and films'

Paddy Hughes joined the RAF and became a fast jet fighter pilot. He flew Hunters and the 1000 mph Lightning. Through illness, he was forced to change careers and became a documentary film writer. A couple of lucky breaks and he became a director. In all he has made over 500 films and video programmes many of which have won major British or international awards.

He began writing poetry in 1971. They span from life at school to the excitement of front-line flying, film work, rugby, travel and concern for the environment. Many are about the moods, weather, seasons, flora, fauna and characters of Richmond Park.